Fuse switch



Oct. 26, 1937. c, QLOUGH 2,097,019

' FUSE surcn Filed July 24. 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 42 a q: a; J' 39. g m? p 45 4/ I g; 33 5 Z 30 vs I /4 S /z /3 4 /o a Inventm' 34 flrenflfllaugh,

Attorney 0d. 26, 1937. o, c, CLOUGH 2,097,019

FUSE SWITCH Filed July 24, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nventm' mama/015% Attorney Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates generally to electrical fuse arrangements, and particularly to a switch in which each of the multiple points is connected to one or more fuses, so that when one or a group of fuses becomes inoperative, another fuse or group of fuses may be operatively connected, and an important object of my invention is to provide a new and novel arrangement of this character particularly adapted for installation on motor vehicles and aircraft, enabling the operator to immediately switch from a burnt out fuse or group of fuses to a fuse or group of fuses which is in good condition, so as to avoid the delay ordinarily attendant upon changing fuses.

Another important object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of the character described above which is especially adapted for instrument panel mounting, all of the operative parts except the operating knob being located behind the instrument panel and out of sight, although readily accessible for replacement of fuses when necessary.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 is a general front elevational view of a portion of an instrument panel showing the device of the invention installed thereon.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the instrument panel and through the device of the invention showing the relationship of parts.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the device.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the instrument panel showing a part of the knob equipped shaft.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the instrument panel showing the knob and the above mentioned part of the knob equipped shaft in top plan.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the front of the stationary member of the switch and of the rotor behind the instrument panel.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on a radius through the rotor showing the springpressed contact arrangement thereon.

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view through Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the stationary member of .the switch showing the center plate connection.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 through the stationary member showing the contact ring connection.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 refers generally to an instrument panel such as the instrument panel of an automobile and on the front of this is mounted a dial ring 6 which has circumferentially thereon designations 1 identifying the various fuses of the switch and is connected by a suitable means generally indicated at 8 to the front of the instrument panel and concentric with the rotor shaft 9 which is journaled in a suitable opening III in the instrument panel and has attached to its outer end the triangular finger knob H which is fixed to the shaft by means of a radially arranged set screw l2. The shaft is increased in diameter as indicated at I! behind the instrument panel so as to provide the shoulder II for bearing against the wear washer I! which abuts the back side of the instrument panel 5 as shown in Figure 2. The point of the triangular knob II is arranged to closely approach the inner periphery of the ring 6 to point to any one of the designations 1.

Mounted screws or bolts 16 having their heads countersunk flush in the front of the, instrument panel and passing rearwardly through the instrument panel have thereon spacers I! which space the stationary dielectric annular member '8 the required distance from the back of the instrument panel as shown in Figure 2, the rear end of the screws i6 passing through the circular dielectric plate I! and receiving nuts I 9 which are tightened against the back of the plate ill.

The portion I! of the motor shaft 9 is transversely elongated and U-shaped as indicated at 20 in Figures 4 and 5, and the arms thereof are arranged to closely seat in the diametrically opposed notches 22, 23 in the rotor which is gen-- erally designated 2|, whereby rotation of the knob II is transmitted to the rotor 2i.

The rotor which is generally designated 2| comprises the circular central portion 24 which has the radially projecting arm 25 and diametrically opposite to the arm 25 the spring contact carrying arm 26 which is longer than the arm 25. The rotor is supported by and rotates on the bolt 21 which has thereon a washer 28 bearing against the front face of the rotor and the dielectric spacer 29 bearing against the rear face of the rotor and the front face of the circular plate l8, the bolt 21 passing through the plate i8 and through the circular conductive plate 30 which is located on the back of the dielectric plate i8, and the head of the bolt 21 bears against the washer 3i which abuts the rear face of the plate 30, all of which is shown in Figure 2.

concentrically spaced from the center of the rotor and attached to the front face of the circular dielectric plate i8 is the contact ring or annulus 32, and concentrically spaced radially outwardly from the contact ring 32 is the circle of circumferentially spaced contact points 33 which have shanks 34 passing rearwardly through the dielectric plate l8 and connected to the radially outwardly located clamp 35 of the pair of clamps 35, 36 which hold each individual fuse 31.

The fuse clamp 36 is mounted on a radially outward part of the plate 33. By this arrangement the inner side of each fuse is connected to the conductive plate 30 while the radially outward side of each fuse is connected to an individual one of the switch points 33.

Mounted on the long arm 26 of the rotor 2i and sliding in an axial direction of the stationary shaft 38 is the contact slide generally designated 39 which comprises a channel bar 46 traversed by the shaft 38 at a central point and urged toward the rear by a spring ll which is circumposed on the shaft 38 between the head thereof and the front side of the bar 46. The bar 46 has therein and slidable through receiving openings in the arm 26 a pair of contacts 42, 43, the contact 42 being arranged to engage the circle of contacts 33, and the contact 43 being arranged to be in constant engagement with the conductive ring or annulus 32.

It is evident that any one of the fuses 31 may be thrown into the circuit in which the switch is arranged simply by moving the rotor 2| by operating the knob H in such a position that the contact 42 engages the selected one of the contacts 33, and that the rotor may be changed in position to contact any one of the contacts 33.

A contact strip 44 extending radially outwardly from the circular conductive plate 30 has a binding post 45 enabling connection of one of the wires of the circuit in which the switch is to be located, while a radially inwardly directed connector strip 46 has a binding post 41 for connection of the remaining one of the wires of the circuit in which the switch is interposed, and one end of the strip 46 is connected by a pin 48 passing forwardly through the dielectric plate 18 with the conductive annulus ,32. It will be obvious in Figure 9 that the connector strip 44 is connected by a pin 44 passing forwardly through the dielectric plate IS with one of the contacts 33. The arrangement of these connections appears clearly in Figure 3.

A depression is-provided in the back of the rotor arm 26 and receives the contacts 33 as they are registered by the contact 42 so that some effort is required to turn the rotor to the next contact and the contact 42 is held securely in engagement with a selected one of the contacts 33 until a change is made by rotating the finger knob.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in materials and in the structure and arrangement of parts within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. A device of the character described comprising a relatively stationary support, a plurality of circu'mferentially spaced fuses on said support, a corresponding plurality of circumferentially spaced contact points to each oil which one end of a corresponding fuse is electrically connected, a contact ring on said support, means for electrically connecting the remaining ends of said fuses to said contact ring,

a rotor supported adjacent said support and having a radial arm carrying a pair of radially spaced brushes, means electrically bridging said brushes, one of said brushes being constantly slidably engagedv with said contact ring and the remaining brush being selectively engageable with said plu rality of contact points.

2. A device of the character described comprising a relatively stationary support, a plurality of circumferentially spaced fuses on said support, a corresponding plurality of circumferentially spaced contact points to each of which one end of a corresponding fuse is electrically connected, a contact ring on said support, means electrically connecting the remaining ends of said fuses to said contact ring, a rotor supported adjacent said support and having a radial arm carrying a pair of radially spaced brushes, one of said brushes being constantly slidably engaged with said contact ring and the remaining brush being selectively engageable with said plurality of contact points, a bridge engaging and electrically connecting said brushes, and spring means pressing said bridge into operative position.

3. A device of the character described comprising a relatively stationary support, a plurality of circumferentially spaced fuses on said support, a corresponding plurality of circumferentially spaced contact points to each of which one end of a corresponding fuseis electrically connected, a contact ring on said support, means electrically connecting the remaining ends of said fuses to said contact ring, a rotor supported adjacent said support and having a radial arm carrying a pair of radially spaced brushes, one of said brushes being constantly slidably engaged with said con-' tact ring and the remaining brush being selectively engageable with said plurality of contact points, a bridge engaging and electrically connecting said brushes, said brushes being arranged substantially in axial alignment with the contact points and the contact ring, and spring means'urging said bridge in a direction to press said brushes toward said contact points and said contact ring.

4. A device of the character described comprising a relatively stationary support, a plurality of circumferentially spaced fuses on said support, a corresponding plurality of circumferentially spaced contact points to each of which one end of a corresponding fuse is electrically connected, a contact ring on said support, means eIectrically connecting the remaining ends of said fuses to said contact ring, a rotor supported adjacent said support and having a radial arm carrying a pair of radially spaced brushes, one of said brushes being constantly slidably engaged with said contact ring and the remaining brush being selectively engageable with said plurality of contact points, a bridge engaging and electrically connecting said brushes, said brushes being arranged substantially in axial alignment with respect to the contact points and the contact ring, spring means urging said bridge in a direction to press toward said contact points and said contact ring, and means rockably and slidably mounting said bridge on said rotor between said pair of brushes.

OREN C. CLOUGH. 

